So, What Are You Doing With Your Life?

I literally get this question about seven times a day, and let me tell you, it wears on my heart every time. And it’s because I have no clue.

I really and actually don’t know what I’m doing with my life.

Because God has me in this place of not knowing.

It’s fun and can be exciting at times, but then the nine seconds end and it’s back to not knowing how to respond when people ask me that.

My normal response is, “Uhmmmmmmmmm that’s a great question.”

Sometimes, I go on with, “Yeah, I’m currently asking God that, too.”

Sometimes, my sarcasm gets the best of me and it’s, “If you find out.. can you fill me in. Kind of dying over here in this whole “not knowing” thing.”

I know, it probably sounds like my heart is sassy and bitter and frustrated.

And to be honest, it kind of is. Well, in this moment anyways.

Hear me out, I promise I’m getting somewhere.

So this week I’ve been telling God about my frustration in not knowing where to apply, when to go, if I should stay or go back or move. If I should start a business or move to Africa or what not.

I’ve been burdened because deep down, I know I know I know that God is calling me to tell the Gospel to unreached cultures… to cultures who have never heard the Gospel.

But I feel like I have to live up to standards in this world. Like I have to start this trendy organization. Or graduate college. Or have a ten-year plan.

But, my sister, God laid this beautiful, beautiful truth on my heart:

I am here to make disciples.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

I am here to make disciples.

I am here, in this current season, to make disciples.

I am here, in this city, to make disciples.

I am here, in this church, in this company, in this coffee shop to make disciples.

I am here, living this life, to make disciples.

There is no pressure. There are no burdens. There are no standards of business, or non-profits, or finances, or degrees.

My heart is literally beating right now so I can make disciples.

(You may say.. isn’t my heart beating so I can love Jesus… well yes… but if you had completed the work that God has kept for you, if you had made all of the disciples that our God had gifted you, then you would be with Him, in Heaven. SO my friend, yes, my heart is beating right now so I can make disciples.)

Breathe. I feel like sometimes, we over-complicate everything. It’s simple: We are here to make disciples.

I’m learning right now to listen to what God says more than I listen to what people around me, to what this world says.

And this is what my sweet Jesus says,

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(Matthew 28:18-20)

I am tuning out the voices of creation and opening my ears to the voice of my Creator:

“Go and make disciples of all nations.”

Make disciples.

Oh, may my heart know this command truly and deeply.

Make disciples.

It’s so simple. Break down the strongholds. Crush the standards. Snap the chains.

I am here, not to create a successful non-profit or business, not to make a reckless move to another country, not to do anything, but make disciples.

It’s not about the structure, the organization, the system. It’s not about worldly success and profits and looking faith-filled.

It’s about people.

It’s about the people around me coming to know Jesus.

And maybe I will do that through an organization. Through a business. Through a degree. Through a move to another.

But there’s no pressure to do that.

It’s just about making disciples.

My friend, I think so often we think that Christianity is about doing big things for Jesus. About that move to Africa. About starting a lady’s Bible study. About creating a non-profit. About going to Bible college.

But I think that Christianity, even more so, is about being faithful in little, small things each and every day.

About meeting a friend for coffee and letting her pour her heart out. About buying a homeless man lunch. About going to that student’s sports game. About writing your mom a note. About loving, and being open and honest, about being available and approachable. About listening. And when speaking, speaking wisely.

A Christian is born in a moment. But, a disciple… disciples happen over time. They happen over and during our mundane everyday life.

Disciples happen over a life of dinner, watching TV, fixing cars, reading books, going to work, running to the grocery store, meeting for brunch, choosing what to wear.

Disciples are made with genuine interactions of love in the midst of the day to day life.

We are sometimes called to big things… but always called to little things. Little things like sports games, dinnertime, college classes, coffee dates, and conversations with the cashier.

And honestly, my friends, I think that the small things here on earth are actually the big things in the Kingdom of Heaven.

I think that the small things in our eyes are so big in the eyes of God.

I think that the next time someone asks me, “What are you doing with your life?” that I am going to, first, pray to hold my sassy tongue, and second, simply say,

“Making disciples.”

That’s really it.

I mean, maybe God will call me to do that through a non-profit. Or through a business. (Please, let it be a coffee shop.) Or maybe through moving to South America.

Whatever it may be, it’s all really just making disciples.

My sister, I pray for our hearts to hear God’s voice louder than the voices of this world.

My sister, I pray for a deep, radical devotion to the Gospel and the saving power of Christ.

And my sister, I pray that God would use us in mighty, beautiful ways in one person’s life today. I pray that He would use us to preach the Gospel, to love selflessly, to make disciples.

With much, much love. And a heart beating for one reason. –Melissa

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My two friends and I are currently in Guatemala studying abroad and doing missions work. We loved your blog and read it out loud together. Your thoughts were inspiring to say the least, especially as we begin ministry to make disciples in another nation. Thanks for sharing.
Love,
Jen, Kel, & Mav

Jen, Kel, and Mav,
WOW this is basically the best thing I’ve ever heard hahah! How fun! What a big step of faith to be doing missions work in Nicaragua… praying for a deep sense of faith, joy, strength, and an overflow of love! Yes, go make those disciples! Love it! Much love, my friends! Please email me if you ever have any prayer reqs.

Wow, this was right on time! Sometimes we get so caught up in what were want to build for Christ we forget the foundation of why we’re doing it. Start that non-profit to make disciples, open that coffee shop to make disciples, or start that business to create disciples, to impact the world. I heard a sermon at church, http://www.elevation church.org ,that talked about starting small and being faithful in that. Thank you for reminding us to get back to the basics of what God is calling us to do which is to make disciples, the salvation of the world depends on it!

This is so perfectly said. I used to stress so much about my calling and what I was meant to do. I would stress about moving. Then one day God told me that I am meant to stay right where I am for now and share the good news.. to share my story that definitely isn’t pretty but has a happy ending. That there are people all around me who struggle with the same feelings and situations that I used to struggle with… and that I can be that person to bring them to this light. It’s truly a beautiful thing what God can say to us if we are just willing to trust and listen.

Blair,
Love that! It’s such an amazing and Biblical principle to stay in our homes, our towns, our communities and make disciples with the people right around us. So often we think that we have to go somewhere to make disciples. Yes, so true what you said- a beautiful thing of what God can say if we are willing to trust and listen. Praying for open doors and an overflow of grace! Much love to you, my friend!

Thank you for writing this. I was asked to speak at a Monday Night Bible Study, and last night I spoke on Ezekiel 33. My “sermon” was very much along the same lines as what you’ve written here. This was the first time I’ve had such a privilege and with that you have some worry that you said the right thing.

This post is just another confirmation that I said the right thing. And, what better way to say it than the way you have? To make disciples.

Wow that’s so amazing that you had the privilege to speak at your Monday night Bible study! That’s awesome! Yes, God must have used your sermon in so many ways in the peoples’ hearts. The simplicity of making disciples. Thanks for your encouragement! Much love to you, my friend!

WOW This post was SOO good.
Funny, because I’ve been gong through the same thing lately. And even though this post is a little older it spoke to my heart ! And crazy because I went to South Africa and Miss it SOOO much. Thank you so much for having such an awesome blog, speaking the truth and you sharing your heart.

AH I am so glad that you enjoyed this post! And that you understand hahah! This was such a heart-changing lesson that God taught me! South Africa sounds amazing- understandable about how you miss it so much. Thank you for your kind words, my friend! Much love to you!

I enjoyed this article greatly. As a stay at home mom for 20 years, I sometimes have felt this pressure from people. it took some time for me to realize that the disciples I make in my own home are my most precious and sacred priority. 1st Timothy 5:10 puts raising children among the very first of the good works that a woman is to have spent her life on, so this is not wasting your life! Let us stay focused on the clear truth you have written about, and not allow the world to sway us. Press on, friend!

Nicci,
AMEN! I love that. You have such a strong and genuine heart… stand firm in that!! God is SO honored and delights in the intentional care of children… I love the way you phrased it, “most precious and sacred priority.” Thank you for encouraging me! Much love to you and your kiddos!